Sixty years ago, on September 7, 1965, a young Indian Air Force pilot flew into history as part of the world’s first daring daylight airstrike on Pakistan’s Sargodha airbase. That pilot, Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar (Retd), now 84, recalls the mission that earned him a Mention in Despatches for gallantry and became one of the most iconic operations in IAF history.
“The Sargodha strike was about courage, precision, and faith in one’s squadron. Even after six decades, the memory of that mission is etched in my mind,” he said. India’s recent Operation Sindoor once again targeted the Sargodha airbase, underlining its continuing strategic relevance.
A Distinguished IAF Journey
Born in Davangere and educated in Mysuru and Bengaluru, Rajkumar joined the IAF’s Flying Branch in November 1962. After nine years in fighter squadrons, he trained as an Experimental Test Pilot in France in 1971. Over the course of his career, he flew 55 aircraft types and logged 5,200 flying hours.
A graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the Royal College of Defence Studies, London, Rajkumar went on to serve in pivotal roles that shaped India’s aviation history.
In 1994, late President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, then Scientific Adviser to the Defence Ministry, personally requested his services to oversee the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft’s flight test programme at the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). Rajkumar later retired as Director of ADA after playing a central role in the indigenous fighter programme.
Awards and Recognition
For his distinguished service, he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), and Vayu Sena Medal (VM).
The Tejas, which he helped bring to life, was officially inducted into the IAF in 2016. Remarkably, Rajkumar flew the Tejas trainer at the age of 78 and later chronicled the aircraft’s journey in his acclaimed book Radiance in Indian Skies: The Tejas Saga, launched at Aero India 2021 by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
“To fly Tejas decades after my first sortie was not just a privilege, but proof of how far India has come in aviation technology,” he reflected.
Inspiration for Cinema and Beyond
The legendary Sargodha strike has also inspired cinema. The Bollywood film Sky Force, released in January 2025, dramatised the daring daylight operation, bringing the story of India’s air power to the big screen.
Still Active at 84
Even today, Air Marshal Rajkumar remains active. He earlier served as President of the Aeronautical Society of India and continues to pursue his passion for golf with the same enthusiasm that defined his flying days.
